Community Studies Manual Master

COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
SEED TO OAKS
Community Study Manual
We are leading the way in community renewal
by mobilizing local churches to the front lines
of social change.
www.seedtooaks.com
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SEED TO OAKS
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We dedicate this manual to Heidi Unruh, a community study pioneer, who has been an inspiration to us
in more ways than we can ever express. Thank you, Heidi.

COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
I am of the opinion that my
life belongs to the whole
community and as long as I
live, it is my privilege to do
for it whatever I can. I want
to be thoroughly used up
when I die, for the harder I
work the more I live.
– George Bernard Shaw
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Page 05
The Ten Step Process
Step One: Understand the Community Study
Step Two: Build the Right Team
Step Three: Learn Your Community
Step Four: Paint a Portrait
Step Five: Listen Before You Love
Step Six: Deepen the Relationship
Step Seven: Discover your Congragation’s Gifts
Step Eight: Pull it Together
Step Nine: Present Your Findings
Step Ten: After the Study
Page 06
Page 10
Page 14
Page 20
Page 23
Page 26
Page 30
Page 33
Page 37
Page 40
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Introduction
MY SEED TO OAKS
COMMUNITY STUDY STRATEGIST IS
Name
Phone
Email
About Seed to Oaks
o Seed to Oaks envisions a world where every local church is restoring its
community to physical, social and spiritual health. Our mission is to mobilize
local churches to the front lines of social change.
o We are a non-profit that helps socially-driven pastors advance the kingdom by
mobilizing their people through guided social initiatives.
o Our expertise is in helping churches cultivate a stronger and more powerful
presence in their communities; one that is capable of meeting real needs,
making disciples and advancing the great commission.
About This Manual
o This is a full-scope community study manual that will provide you and your
church team with structured guidance to conduct a successful community
study, regardless of its size. It is intended to be used as a customizable
template to research your community by providing guidance for gathering a
lead team, demographic data, research, community surveys, conversations,
logistics, forms, and tips to effectively communicating your findings.
o We encourage your entire team read the ten-step process in its entirety. This is
important because the team will work collaboratively to complete the online
Community Study Workbook where you can store all information in one place.
o This entire manual, including the mentioned workbook, is available to our
church partners in an accessible electronic Dropbox for copying, adaptation,
and implementation. Your customized workbook is available via Google docs.
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01
Step One:
Understand the
Community Study
For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love
your neighbor as yourself. – Galatians 5:14
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
What is a
Community Study?
A community study is a process
of learning about a particular
community’s past and present
conditions.
Welcome to the Journey!
With a servant’s heart, consider this manual as a tenstep
guided “Servant or Relationship Builder.” It is
designed to help you and your church get to know
your community in an intimate and influential way.
We desire to help you foster relationships that have
the power to organize people around common
values and issues to facilitate change that both the
community and your church desire.
The goal of our journey is not to be served, but to
serve. This process is designed to lay the foundation
for a healthy, loving, and servant-driven relationship
with your community.
Rather than approaching this study as you would
when researching a topic for a school report,
approach this study as a tool to help you see your
community through new eyes. It will help you build
powerful and effective relationships that seek the
good of others as well as the good of your church.
Like any healthy and trusting relationships, getting
to know your neighborhood will take time. So, relax
and get ready to experience your community in an
entirely new and exciting way!
Why Study My Community?
As you examine your community more closely, the
people you are seeking to serve will begin to emerge.
When you take time to listen to God and to your
neighbors, you can more clearly identify:
o WHO are you called to serve
o WHERE God is already at work
o WHAT their greatest needs are
o HOW your church will help meet those needs
The results can be astounding and last a lifetime by
building relationships that are mutually beneficial and
capable of addressing real community needs. These
relationships are used as a way to make disciples and
advance the Great Commission.
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DID YOU KNOW?
Our online workbook is designed for you and your team to
keep all of your study findings in one place.
A good community study will take you and your team
approximately three months from start to finish
(sometimes more depending on the size of your
community).
You arlready know many of the people in your community
that would be willing to come alongside you to you learn
more about the area.
Often the best part of conducting a community study is
the satisfaction of knowing that you are equipping your
church to do the work of the Kingdom.
Your Goal is to BUILD
The main emphasis of this study is to BUILD
Relationships. The journey will help your church
and community BUILD:
B – Build Relationships
U – Understand each other
I – Identify People’s Gifts and Passions
L – Look for Needs, Wants, Dreams
D – Develop strategic and ministry plans
Build Relationships
Nothing happens outside of relationships.
Community relationships are established and
strengthened by listening and talking to one
another. Real relationships cultivate a stronger
sense of belonging and identification within the
community. Seeking community input as we learn is
an essential part of identifying people’s passions
and potential. You will see that these relationships
ultimately lead to collaborations that build energy
and excitement toward organized action and gospel
advancement.
Understand Each Other
To ensure your church is addressing issues of real
importance within your neighborhood, you must get
to know the community and how they perceive your
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Your Motives Matter
Trying to get to know your community with wrong motivations will short-circuit your relationship, and you will find
yourself with an empty study that poorly reflects the soul of your community. The following motivations will
ultimately serve as a barrier to knowing the people in your community.
We Want Comfort - We want to find the easiest ways to reach the community because we fear hard work. If this is
our motive we will sacrifice community if and when it becomes inconvenient. We will come across as controlling,
demanding or dissatisfied and others will feel like objects, not companions or friends. God wants us to obey His
call to reach every man, woman, and child with the gospel. This isn’t always the easiest call to answer.
We Want Recognition - We want our church to be known, invited and acknowledged as the most important church
in our community. We fear being overlooked. If this is our motive we will sacrifice growing together with our
community. If and when we disagree we will come across as opinionated and domineering and others will feel
patronized and disrespected. Our ultimate goal is for God’s name to be recognized through sacrificial service.
We want Power - We want our church to be successful at everything it does and we want to be the only ones who
lead the way. We fear being told what to do. If this is our motive we will sacrifice intimacy and mutually helpful
community. Others will feel ignored and unappreciated. We will come across as cold and distant, even aggressive
and argumentative.
church. To see your church through the community’s eyes is a
tremendous tool for addressing cultural and/or perception barriers.
It is also necessary for building effective relationships, developing
the type of ministries the community really needs and wants, and
creating opportunities that are in alignment with the community’s
culture.
Look for Needs, Wants and Dreams
To identify and address real struggles in your church’s
neighborhood you must allow community members to inform your
church’s vision by asking them how they would like you to best love
residents of the community. Supporting people’s passions and
desires to improve their own community is powerful. Assisting
others in making their dreams come true when their dreams are in
alignment with God’s will is a beautiful gift.
Always ask people in
your community, “How
can we help you?” and
don’t worry about who
gets the credit.
- Eric Swanson
Develop Strategic and Ministry Plans
Implementing plans that build upon the strengths and needs of the
community will allow you to have more impact with less guesswork
and more accuracy when making long-term ministry investments.
Identifying community trends allows you to address more than just
community crises by making long-term differences in the lives of the
people who live there.
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02
Step Two: Build the
Right Team
(Role of the Study Coordinator)
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good
stewards of God's varied grace. – 1 Peter 4:10
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Building Public Trust as a Team
Cultivating trust on behalf of your church relies on building the right team for your study. Initial impressions
will leave a lasting imprint, and your first connections are important. Building trust can be a simple process,
but it isn’t easy, even for the very best teams.
As you are selecting team members, remember they will be the first point of contact that many in your
surrounding area will have with your church. Because of this, we encourage you to choose deacon quality
leaders to assist the study. As you reflect on who should join the team, consider the following 5 key
attitudes to guide your selection.
5 Team Attitudes that Build
Trust
1. They Focus on Principles over Processes. Processes are important. This
manual outlines a process. However, processes don’t give guidance
when new situations arise. Select team members who can operate out of
these core community principles:
o God is already at work in your Community.
o The community is defined not by problems but by potential.
o Effective ministry builds on people’s strengths.
o We do ministry with people, not to people.
2. They Are More Connected than They Think – This idea invites the team to
define their notion of relationship to include everyone in the community.
To aid your church in being a servant in the community requires an
expansive view of relationships and possibility. The reality is that
relationships within the community are endless.
3. They Know that It’s Not About Them – Many teams and churches are selfabsorbed.
Not this team. This team should be designed to help others
the best they can. If the study becomes about you, the power of getting
to know the other person and their perspective has been missed.
The first responsibility
of a leader is to define
reality. The last is to
say thank you. In
between the two, the
leader must become a
servant.”
- Max DePree
4. They are Curious about Others – This team’s purpose is discovery. If your
team is curious about the community they will always be poised to learn,
create connections, and influence positively.
5. They Realize the Value of Time – Believing that you must build all these
relationships in a three-month period is unrealistic. This is a longerterm,
shared journey that will last for many years to come.
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Practical Do’s and Don’ts for your
Team Members
Team Do’s
o Be willing to ease into deeper conversations with
community leaders and representatives.
o Understand that some questions can be too aggressive for
a new relationship.
o Give the community time to warm-up. Neighbors may feel
uncomfortable talking with someone who they have never
met.
o Listen carefully to the responses you receive from your
community and follow-up with questions to dig deeper.
o Be prepared for unexpected answers to your questions.
o Aim for a real conversation with the community, one that is
two-sided and mutually beneficial.
Team Don'ts
o Don’t be afraid of vulnerability and opening up.
o Don’t push the community if they are not responding
quickly. Continue taking small steps towards them and
keep cultivating friendships with community members.
o Don’t give up if there are awkward moments along the way.
o Don’t forget that you may be asked questions too and you
will need to answer them in return.
Maximize your
Success
Focus on working and building
cooperation with your church’s
established channels of ministry.
Which ones are best suited to join you
in this effort? How will you gain their
corporation, trust and respect?
o Sunday Services
o Worship Ministry
o Sunday School
o Small Groups
o Children’s Ministry
o Men’s Ministry
o Women’s Ministry
o Outreach Ministry
o Others
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Building the best volunteer team
possible is important to the
success of your study. You want
to select individuals who have
demonstrated:
§ Biblical Character
§ Ability to work on a team
§ Expertise in the area of
needed leadership
The Key Team Leaders
The six roles below highlight the most important
leadership positions needed to succeed at
studying your community. For smaller churches,
members of the leadership team will likely fulfill
one or more roles. For larger churches, the
leadership team may determine that additional
roles, not mentioned here, are needed. Some of
these roles may not be necessary, if you choose
not to use the recommended methods outlined
in this manual.
Team Member #1: Pastor
The Pastor’s role in the study is the least active,
but it is very important. The Pastor must
understand the need for a community study and
affirm and bless the process and efforts,
recognizing the long-term and lasting direction
the study will provide. The Pastor will identify the
Study Coordinator before planning begins. The
Pastor will also communicate the findings of the
study from the pulpit and give the congregation a
new lens through which to view their surrounding
neighborhood by casting a vision for a new, more
poignant relationship with their immediate
community.
Top Responsibilities:
o TBD
o TBD
Team Member #2: The Study Coordinator
Study Coordinator is responsible for appointing
individuals to serve on the Community Study Team.
They will plan and coordinate the community study by
providing direction for the team, encouraging team
members, and maintaining momentum for the study.
They will work with the other team members to
produce a summary of their findings. They will
communicate both findings and challenges
throughout the three-month process and assimilate
the findings into a final narrative.
This person should be:
o administrative
o organized
o thorough
o encouraging
o self-motivated
o well-connected
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o analytical in nature
o proficient with computers
o familiar with basic research
techniques
The Statistician works closely with the
community Study Coordinator. He or she
is also responsible for managing
volunteers who they personally recruit
for the project.
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From whom the whole body, joined and held together by
every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is
working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds
itself up in love. Ephesians 4:16
The Study Coordinator reports to the Senior Pastor with monthly
and sometimes real-time updates on the team’s progress and
significant findings. The Coordinator also relates closely with their
Seed to Oaks Strategist.
Top 3 measurable priorities:
o Recruitment of a team of 4-6 people
o Follow the Community Study Manual
o Produce a findings report using the online workbook provided
Team Member #3: The Statistician
The Statistician’s role and responsibilities are outlined in full in
Step Three of this manual.
The Statistician’s role is to research the demographic
characteristics of the neighborhood and compile data to provide a
clear picture of the surrounding area. Specifically, the statatician
will research articles and newsletters, procuring maps, and analyze
the demographics of the area.
This person should be:
Top measurable priorities:
o Research and categorize all
statistics for the community
study
o Record all findings in Step Three
the Online Community Study
Workbook
o Procure all community maps and
documents and save them (an
electronic Dropbox is provided).
Team Member #4: The Observer
The Observer’s role and responsibilities
are outlined in full in Step Four of this
manual.
The Observer ‘s responsibilities include
spending time surveying the
neighborhood by walking and driving the
streets while identifying patterns and
details that are particular to the area.
They will also compile a list of other
churches and non-profits that are
already at work in the community. They
will spend time prayer- walking and will
record their observations. They will also
document onging works in work in the
area.
This person should be:
o prayerful
o sensitive to God’s leading and
revealing
o attentive
o patient
o have an eye for visual details

COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
The Observer works closely with the community
Study Coordinator. He or she is also responsible
for volunteers who they will personally recruit
for the project.
Top measurable priorities:
o Spend time observing the community,
according to the categories delinated in
Step Four of this manual
o Record all findings in Step Four of the
Online Community Study Workbook
o Procure and archive community
documents (an electronic Dropbox is
provided).
Team Member #5: The Resident
The Resident’s role and responsibilities are
outlined in full in Step Five of this manual.
The Resident serves a unique role in this study.
He or she should live in the neighborhood that is
being studied. The Resident will review the
information that is acquired and provide a lens
through which we will interpret the entire study.
They will also lead a survey of the study area,
which when analyzed, will identify themes,
outlooks, and opinions of those who live within
the area.
This person must:
o live within the study area
o be well networked
o be friendly
o be intuitive
o be organized
o be relational
o be observant
o be discerning
The Resident reports to and works closely with
the community Study Coordinator. He or she is
also responsible for volunteers who they will
personally recruit for the project.
Top measurable priorities:
o Spend time shopping, eating, hanging out,
serving, and worshiping in the community
o Describe the culture of the community
according to the instructions detailed in
Step Five of this manual
o Coordinate with Small Groups/Ministry
Teams/Sunday School to conduct a
neighborhood survey
o Answer the questions and record all findings
in Step Five of the Online Community Study
Workbook
o Procure and archive community documents
related to community culture (an electronic
Dropbox is provided).
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Team Member #6: The Interviewer
The Interviewer’s role and responsibilities are outlined in full in Step
Six of this manual.
The Interviewer is on the front lines of relationship building within
the study area. He or she will schedule conversations with 8-12
people who are key leaders and influential people with knowledge of
the area.
EFFFECTIVE, PRINCIPLED LEADERS
ARE:
o
o
Spiritually Mature
Continually Learning
He or she will also identify key church members who can network
among community members and promote these conversational
intervews.
This person should be:
o friendly
o approachable
o a good listener
o well networked
o discerning
o interested in beginning to build relationships
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Service Oriented
Radiate Positive Energy
Believe in Other People
Lead Balanced Lives
View Life as an Adventure
Productive in New and
Creative Ways
Exercise Self Care
The Interviewer reports to and works closely with the community
Study Coordinator. He or she is also responsible for volunteers who
he or she will personally recruit for the project.
Top measurable priorities:
o Before having Community Conversations, submit a list of
potential people intended to be visited
o Have conversations with 8-12 influential community
memebers and record relevant notes.
o Record all findings in Step Six of the Online Community
Study Workbook
o Procure and archive community documents collected during
conversations (an electronic Dropbox is provided).
DID YOU KNOW?
Our google doc workbook is designed
with each team member in mind? They
can record all their findings in one place,
making it easier to compile all the
community information.
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
03
Step Three: Learn
the Community
(Role of the Statistician)
Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who
wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.”
Mark 9:35
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Three Ways to Learn the
Community
1 - Demographics – The most important source of demographic data is the US
Census Bureau. The Census Bureau conducts an official count of the people in
the US and collect demographic data, including race, ethnicity, gender, age,
education, profession, occupation, income level, and marital status. These data
identify the socio-economic realities of your search area, including population
density, poverty rates, living standards, and literary levels. These data will help
your church understand what is happening in your community. Demographic
data also help the Resident refine the questions for door-to-door community
surveys (Step Six). Your role is to research these data through various online
sources and record them in the online workbook:
o
o
o
www.statisticalatlas.com
www.city-data.com
www.census.gov
2 - Maps – Capitizing on internet-based mapping tools has become a key
strategy for analyzing and communicating issues within a community. In
mapping your own community and reflecting on the issues that they illuminate,
you can develop and advocate for solutions.
Overview
Researching and accurately telling your community’s
story has the power to awaken curiosity and
compassion both within your church and the
community at large. We are not interested in simply
gathering data. Rather we are interested in
researching strategic data and people, which will
work together to help your church initiate action as
a servant within the community.
Where to Focus Your Research
When embarking on a community study, defining the
geographic and community boundaries is very
important. One of the first and most important
steps in the process is to define the geographic
location that will be your area of study. There are
several options when setting the boundaries of your
study.
We recommend the focus of your study to be the
neighborhood immediately surrounding your church
building’s location.
However, there are a few other options:
o The Community where most members live
o Zip Code as boundary
o County Line as boundary
o Census Track as boundary
o 1 Mile Radius
Creating a Community Profile
A Community Profile is a summary of baseline
conditions and trends in a particular area. It
establishes the context for assessing potential
impacts and ministry decision making.
Creating a Community Profile is important because it
begins to provide basic answers to the four primary
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Maps can be obtained online and can be customized to your area by noting
landmarks, major traffic routes, gathering places, public spaces, businesses,
schools, government agencies, non-profits serving the area, places of worship,
and district lines. Your role is to research these data through various online
sources and archive them in the online Dropbox:
o www.statisticalatlas.com
o www.communitycommons.org/maps-data/
3 - Existing Community Documents – A lot of information about your
community may already exist. Neighborhood publications, articles about the
community in local newspapers, and newsletters from other non-profits that
serve the area can be helpful when trying to establish connections and the
importance of what is found. In addition, you can typically find reports
procured by local city or government departments on their websites. Consider
searching public health, economic development, housing, and social services
departments. Your role is to identify and archive these documents in the
online Dropbox.
u
questions that are the essence of your study. Again,
they are:
• WHO are you called to serve?
• WHERE is God already at work?
• WHAT are their greatest needs?
• HOW will your church help meet those needs?
Completing the Community Profile is ultimately a
team effort, but it is the role of the Statistician to
discover the initial data. Once these data are
collected, you will find that it informs and
illuminates all the other aspects of a successful
community study.
The information you collect will be used to:
o Paint a Community Portrait (Step Four)
o Conduct Community Surveys (Step Five)
o Identify who to talk to (Step Six)
o Identify your church’s gifts that are most
relevant to Community Needs (Step Seven)
What You are Looking For
The goal of your research is to develop the most
accurate profile of the community possible.
What You Need to Assertain about the People in
the Community:
o Faith
o Values
o Lifestyles
o Quality of life
o Areas of need and concern
What You Need to Determine about the
Community Itself:
o Boundaries
o Organization
o Various groups within the community
o Facilities
o Resources
o Relationships
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Community Profile
Exercise
This is the beginning of an
exercise that should never end.
At this moment, the question is:
“What have you learned so far
about the people in your
community?”
Building a solid community profile begins with
reflecting on your own church community and
moves outward from there.
Take 60 minutes to complete this 3-part exercise
adapted from Dave Andrews course Compassionate
Community Work:
Part 1: What Kind of Church are You?
Are there any distinctive characteristics of your
church? See the workbook for a llist of
characteristics.
It is important to include specific stories behind
these general descriptors by answering the
following questions:
1. What is the history of your church
community?
2. What are the significant events that have
changed it?
3. What are the various groups in your church
community?
DID YOU KNOW?
Our Community Study online workbook has this exercise in it
and is designed so that you can keep all your information in
one place.
4. What are the major issues your church is
dealing with?
5. How is your church likely to change in the
future?
Part 2: What Kind of Locality are You In?
Are there any other distinctive characteristics of
your community study locality? See the workbook
for a llist of characteristics.
It is important to include specific stories behind
these general descriptors by answering the
following questions:
1. What is the history of your local community?
2. What are the significant events that have
changed it?
3. What are the various groups in your local
community?
4. What are the major issues your local
community is dealing with?
5. How is your local community likely to change in
the future?
Part 3: What kind of similarities and
difference exist between your church and
its community at large?
What are the similarities and differences between
your church community and your local community.
1. Does your church reflect the demographics of
people in your local community?
2. How does the age profile of your church
compare to that of its community?
3. How does the socio-economic status of your
church members compare to that of local
residents?
4. How does the ethnic profile of your church
compare to the community?
5. Are there any other similarities or differences
between your communities?
6. What do these similarities or differences
between your communities signify?
Be sure to record your reflections in your workbook.
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
04
r
Step Four: Paint a
Portrait
(Role of the Observer)
Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their
synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and
healing every disease and sickness. – Matthew 9:35
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A Good Observation Helps
People to See
Observing and surveying the community are essential step for
capturing an accureate profile of the community.
What do we mean by “observation?”
Direct observation is the practice of examining or watching places,
people, or, activities without interfering or participating in what’s
going on. The observer is the proverbial “fly on the wall”, often
unidentified, who does nothing but watch and record what she sees
and/or hears.
A direct observation to see how people use a public park, for
instance, might consist of one or more observers simply sitting in
one place or walking around the park for several hours, or even
several days.
Observers might revisit an area during different times of day, on
different days, or at different times a year, in order to understand as
much as possible of what goes on in the park. They might
occasionally ask questions of people using the park, but in as lowkey
and unobtrusive a way as possible, not identifying themselves
as researchers.
What should you observe and
record?
That depends on the questions you’re
trying to answer, but some basics
include:
1. The time of day, week, and year.
2. A description (age, race/ethnicity,
gender, clothing style, etc.) of any
people involved.
3. The activities, events, and/or places
or circumstances observed, and a
description of each.
4. The nature of interactions among
people.
5. People’s apparent attitudes toward a
place, situation, activity, or event –
positive or negative, happy,
confused, angry, disappointed, etc.
6. A description of the physical
environment you are in.
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
We encourage you to make observations of the following six key
areas of community life. When combined, these six areas will give
you a fuller and more robust picture of your community.
Market - Community and Commerce. The Market is the place where
people gather in large or small groups, socialize, advocate for
causes, buy and sell products, refresh themselves, engage in civic
and political activities, as well as dance and hold festivals. The
Market is characterized by both interaction and exchange. These are
the places where “the people” are. Where will you go to observe
your community’s market?
Examples of places to observe might include: your public park,
shopping center, farmer’s market, community center, grocery store,
local bar, etc.
Police and Government - Government, Law, Authority, Politics. This
area refers to anything in the community where power is central.
You observe these areas to gauge the presence of both local and
municipal governments, as well as police presence. These powers
are present in every community- they can be positive or negative.
Vocations in this area include politicians, judges, governors, lawyers
Without an accurate
community study, a
ministry may reflect
the church’s interests
more than the
community’s real
needs, wants, and
dreams.”
DID YOU KNOW?
Our Community Study online workbook includes
this study, and is designed so that you can keep all
your information in one place.
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and police. Where will you go to look for the role of police
and government in your community?
Examples of places to look might include:
o Newspaper articles on injustice, corruption, or
stories of police heroes, etc.
o Public meetings, such as the PTA and the
Neighborhood Association. You can also check
your Public Library for a list of community
meetings.
o Where do you see police present? Is there a
stronger presence in particular neighborhoods or
areas, at ballgames or at community events,
festivals?
o How do the police interact with the public? Are
interactions personal, impersonal, aggressive,
militant?
When observing, be attentive to the following: presence,
reputation, influence, attitudes of law enforcement,
political leanings, etc.
Temple - Religion. Where God meets man. The Temple
shapes your community in more private ways. The
narrative of the community is not just rooted in its
history, but more so in its origins. Though religion can be
a bond, increasing unity within a group, it can also create
division between groups. Where will you go to observe
your community’s Temple?
Start by making a list of:
o Evangelical churches
o Other religions
o Houses of worship
Write a brief description of:
o Other religions worshipped
o Religious values or spiritual climate
o Interactions between religious groups
Factory - Vocation and industry. One of the first things
we ask people is what they do. Work and worth as well as
industry and identity, are very closely related in American
culture. Where people work and what they do can give
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Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock,
in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care
for the church of God, which he obtained with his own
blood. Acts 20:28
you a lens through which to view the overall community. The factory
brings people together who are not naturally linked by affinity,
religion, and geography but who have a common central identity
around what they put their hands and mind to. Where will you go to
observe your community’s Factory?
Examples of places to observe might include: Your community’s largest
employer and business associations. Also consider making a list to
identify major local industries and common occupations in your area.
Home - Family and tradition, intimacy. Entry into the home is an
opportunity for hospitality and to learn on a more personal basis
what people accept as true about their own story. The home is a place
where there is ownership. Generational and family traditions and
relationships are built and handed down within this private arena.
This is often the safest and more secure sphere of life. Lessons about
how to be and who to be are often taught here. To best understand
the heartbeat of a community, you must assess where and how people
live. Where individuals have ownership in their personal sphere of life
lends understanding into many factors. Where will you go to observe
your community’s Home?
Examples of ways to observe the Home might include an overall
housing observation and how it affects family life and traditions. Take
a drive and make notes on the following:
o Are there single-family homes,
apartments, condos?
o Is the residential area mixed use
(business and residential, or all
residential)?
o Are the homes close to each other?
o Are the homes old, new, or do they
need restoration?
o Are there parks and space present
for recreation and rest?
o Do you see people out in their
yards, sitting on porches, hanging
out?
Pathways - Connectivity and incidental
contact. Pathways are by definition a
course or direction in which a person or
thing is moves. Your community is full of
established pathways, some more
travelled than others. Pathways limit (or
expand) one’s experience and shape one’s
perception of a community. For example,
when a person bikes to work instead of
driving, they make more connections with
the community in multiple aspects.
Pathways can help us make sense of a city
by dividing it into more manageable
“areas.” However, pathways also have the
power to divide. Pathways have great
impact on whom you see on a regular basis
and how much incidental contact you have
with others. Where will you go to observe
your community’s Path?
Examples might include sidewalks, roads,
railroad tracks, intersections of
neighborhoods, and alleys.
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05
Step Five: Listen
Before You Love
(Role of the Resident)
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen
in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9
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The Benefits of Listening
o You’ll gather critical facts before
making decisions
o You can uncover underlying issues
o You will have more successful
interpersonal relationships
o You avoid trivial conversation
o You’ll recognize the contributions
of others
Listening to Our Community
We listen to people around us to better understand
their stories and culture. We want to learn from
others in the community so we can value and affirm
what is good, challenge what is wrong, and present
the gospel in a relevant way.
The Resident’s Unique Role
The Resident is in a unique position as he/she can
connect the dots as we bring all of the collected
information together. The unique lens through
which the Resident can view community
information is invaluable Becaue they have already
made connections with friends and neighbors and
they understand the unspoken and underlying
realities of the neighborhood.
DID YOU KNOW?
Our online workbook will help each team member keep all of
their information gathererd in one place.
To share what they know, the Resident should take
time to answer the following questions to give the
study team a backdrop to compare and contrast
the information they are gathering.
General Questions for the Resident
1. What has been happening in this area that
people are talking about? Are there
controversies in which neighborhood groups
have been active?
2. Has there been anything that has divided the
area?
3. Has any collective action been successful or
unsuccessful?
4. How much do people know about other
neighborhoods?
5. Are there organizational ties to specific other
neighborhoods?
6. What are the names of the organizations active
in the area?
7. Are there identifiable leaders in the
neighborhood?
8. Are they representative of the area?
9. What are the characteristics of “good leaders”?
10. Is there any issue or problem where you
organized a group effort and influenced others
in some common action?
11. How about your own role in community
activities? Which activities do you do the most?
The Role of Community Surveys
A door-to-door household survey can help your
church better understand the view points of real
residents of the community. It can provide valuable
information about the quality of life, prevalent
attitudes, general worries, and acceptable
pathways for church service. It can also provide
information on community perceptions about what
is most needed and what the real issues areinformation
that sometimes falls outside the
purview of traditional or census data.
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The Top Questions to Ask and Why
The types of questions you ask, and how you ask
them, are very important when completing your
survey. The most effective questions will be stated
warmly and positively. No one wants to share their
concerns to a stranger knocking on their door.
However, with the right questions, you can build
trust quickly and collect the information you need
to better understand the community. We
recommend simply asking these four questions:
1. How long have you lived in this community?
This gives clues to how far back the resident’s
experience has been in the community.
2. What do you like best about this
community? What makes this a good place to
live? This gives clues to where God is already at
work in the community.
3. What are one or two changes you would like to
see that could make life better in this
community? This gives clues to what are the
greatest felt needs.
4. Do you have any ideas about ways a caring
church could make a difference in
this neighborhood? Or can you share a story
about a time when people in
this neighborhood helped one another out? This
gives clues to acceptable pathways for service.
Breaking Through the Fear
Barrier
Don't forget that it's normal. When you are fearful or
insecure, remind yourself that you're simply feeling what
most other people experience. Fear is a normal feeling,
and we all experience it at times.
Feel the Fear—But Do It Anyway. The best way to get over
fear is to walk directly into it. It takes courage but we know
God is for us! Walking into fear is never as bad as you think
it’s going to be.
Be Willing to Stretch Beyond Your Comfort Zone. Most
people avoid discomfort. If you want to get to the next
level of loving your community, you’ve got to be
comfortable being uncomfortable—just for a short time.
Short-term discomfort for long-term Kingdom
advancement will please God.
Take Decisive Action. You’ve got to take action. Serving
your community starts with a decision. Once you make a
decision to serve, it’s time to commit to doing whatever it
takes to make it happen.
It’s about saying YES to what’s possible for you, your
church, and your community.
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
How to Conduct Your Community Survey
Recruit Your Survey Group
To recruit your survey group, consider groups that already exist in
your church, such as Bible Study groups, small groups or Sunday
School. You are looking for a group of 15-20 people (the more the
better) who will be split into pairs.
Decide how many people are going to be surveyed. We recommend
that your volunteers survey between 100-150 homes. This will give
you an adequate sample of the area.
Create a draft of the full survey. Included on your Google Doc is a
sample survey. Be sure to include the 4 questions we have listed
above.
Map out Community Routes. When choosing your survey area, be
sure to select different pockets of the neighborhood to get a good
sampling of the overall community.
Schedule a day. When you choose the day, be sure to give your team
a three-hour block within to operate. Meet with them before they
begin their route. Use this time to pray and explain all instructions.
Give volunteers 1.5-2 hours to complete their survey route and then
meet with them at the end to debrief and make notes as to common
responses before you collect the survey forms.
Decide who will ask the questions. It may be helpful to practice
asking the questions out loud to one another to gain comfort with
the questions and the manner in which you will ask them. Once you
have practiced, decide which person will ask the questions. The
other person will listen for responses and, once the dialogue is
complete, he/she will use a separate survey sheet for each person
asked and write down the answers before moving on to the next
house.
Tabulate your results. Once the surveys are complete and the team
has debriefed, sort through the surveys and compile a list of
common themes that have surfaced.
Interpret your results. Your Seed to Oaks Strategist will help you
interpret the data you have collected, and discuss how these data
provides insight into your community.
Plan future actions.
This is the fun part- alongside your Seed to Oaks Strategist you can
begin to dream about the ways your survey results can inform and
impact future ministry decisions that your church may make.
Did You Know?
Heidi Unruh, in her Community Study
Guide, provides the following
suggestions for conducting
community surveys:
o
o
o
Be sure to identify yourself as a
member of your church and let the
person know that you are asking
these questions to gain deeper
insight into community where your
church is placed.
If someone sends signals that he/she
is uncomfortable or doesn’t want to
participate- that’s OK. It is more
important to be loving and make a
positive connection than to collect
your survey answers. It’s ok to not
complete your questions and simply
thank them for their time and move
on.
Remember that the primary reason
for this survey is to gain information,
NOT to recruit people to church or
convert them. Be careful to not give
off the impression that you are there
to proselytize.
o Be sensitive to the spiritual and
physical needs of those you are
surveying. You can offer to help if
immediate needs arise, but DO NOT
fail to keep your promises. If you
offer help or assistance it is
important to follow through.
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06
Step Six: Deepen the
Relationship
(Role of the Interviewer)
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.
Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
-1 John 4:7
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Community Interviews &
Conversations
What are you Seeking to
Learn?
o Who in the community really
wants to make a difference?
One of the very best ways your church can deepen their relationship
with the community is by meeting and talking with key leaders and
everyday residents in the area. We recommend you interview 6-10
people to obtain thourough insight for this study.
Who You Should Interview
When compiling your list of those you want to visit, you should
remember that every community has official and unofficial leaders.
Official Leaders include political leaders, business leaders,
educational leaders, and those who provide health and social
services. They can become important contacts as your ministry
progresses in the future.
Unofficial leaders are people whose opinions heavily influence the
decision makers within the community. They may be described as
the people who “know everyone and everything.” They usually have
the inside scoop. They may also be the people who are involved in
many of the established community activities. Do your best to
identify a few of these important, but often overlooked, individuals.
o What do the people see are
the issues?
o Who are the real leaders?
Consider Interviewing
o Councilman/woman
o Neighborhood Association
o School Principal
o Real Estate Agent
o Business Owner
o Medical Professional
o Local Historian
o Law Enforcement
o Another Church Pastor
o Influencial Residents
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How to Identify the Right Community
Leaders
There are several types of real leaders in a
community. Your goal is to discover who they
really are:
o Gatekeepers – the person who decides where
someone can “get into” the community. He
or she is usually the chief or informal leader
of the community.
o Caretakers – the person who is the “momma”
or “shepherd” of that community.
o Spokesperson – the unofficial communicator
for all things going on in the community.
o Broker – a networked individual who can
connect you to other people, solve problems,
or find outside help.
How to Prepare for an Individual
Meeting
Select the person you want to engage in
conversation. Then make an appointment
directly or through a trusted person who has the
credentials. Do your best to avoid cold calls.
32
When interviewing, always go to them (in their
office, place of business or public location like a
coffee shop). Be sure to state the length of time
you wish to meet (we recommend half-hour to
one hour). Arrive exactly on time (neither late
nor early) and keep the meeting to the specified
amount of time agreed upon (you can end early,
but never late). Finally, consider refraining from
taking notes during the meeting, but rather take
time to jot them down immediately afterward.
How to Conduct a Community Interview
To help you stay focused we encourage you the
following:
Listen – listen actively and attentively to the
person you are visiting. Ask questions that
encourage him/her to share, and listen to their
responses with full attention.
Share – In addition to listening, you need to be
willing to share from your own life and experience.
Be careful, however, to not steer the conversation in
the direction of your passions. The purpose of
sharing a little is to make yourself vulnerable to that
person and build trust. It’s more of a conversation
than an interview.
Affirm – Affirming the individual is crucial to getting
him or her to share at a deeper level. You need not
agree with interviewee to affirm what he/she is
saying. Your countenance, demeanor, response, and
expression on your face communicates whether or
not you are genuinely interested. Frequently nods,
smiles, or responses, such as “great” or “OK” or
“yes,” affirms the interviewee’s contribution to the
conversation.
Challenge – Another essential task is to challenge

COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
the person. This is not something to do in the first
meeting. Yet, it shouldn’t be avoided as the
relationship matures. The goal is to ask clarifying
questions that encourage the person to reflect on
the implications of what they are saying.
Help to Think Through – Getting a person to think
through the implications of the way he or she is
analyzing a problem is important.
What to Talk and Ask About
1. Joys, hopes, likes
2. Issues, concerns, worries
3. Good stories
Discovering a Person’s Concerns, Issues
and Hopes
we have discovered the following to be helpful:
o Aim to make the visit more of a conversation
than an interview.
o Don’t try to cover so much information that you
cram the meeting full.
o Aim to get to know the person and to discover
what he or she really cares about.
o Ask them to share their vision for the
community, to articulate their primary values
or to share where they perceive themselves as
having gifts or skills.
o Ask them to tell a story. One way to encourage
a story is to tell a story yourself (consider
telling the story of your church)
o Ask questions around the person’s concerns,
issues, and worries around his/her interests,
joys, and passions.
Concluding your visit
This information is usually given only after
sufficient trust has been built. Trust can be built
quickly, even within a matter of minutes. However,
Ask the person for a referral and ask he or she if
they would introduce you to the referral.
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07
Step Seven: Discover
Your Congregation’s
Gifts
(Role of the Interviewer)
For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these
members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many,
form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
-Romans 12:4-5
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Connecting the Dots
As you identify your congregation’s gifts, two simple but powerful
points become clear:
o Your church has gifts and interests
o Your community has needs, dreams and wants
We discover that God has given each congregation both gifts and
assets to meet the needs, dreams, and desires of others. The goal
of this step is to create a new connection between your
congregation’s assets and the surrounding community. We are all
stewards of God’s gifts. This exercise provides a clearer picture
and understanding of our own gifts. If we can connect our gifts
with the gifts of others we can determine new pathways of service.
Connecting the dots is a simple, yet profound expression of active
stewardship. Ask the following questions:
If your church picked
up and left, how would
the community feel?
Would they weep?
Would anybody even
notice? Would anybody
even care?”
- Rick Rusaw
o How you do see your church meeting the needs of your
community?
o What assets will you use to serve the community around
you?
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How to Recognize your Assets
When it comes to reflecting on your own congregation, you can take
two divergent paths. The first begins by focusing on your church’s
needs, deficiencies and problems. This is the path most travelled.
Perhaps you see your church as too old, too small, or you that don’t
have enough money (the list can go on and on). However, there is a
second path that focuses on your congregation’s capacities and assets.
This is the direction we recommend. We believe every church has
something powerful to offer their community when they take the time
to reflect on their assets, rather tha their deficits.
YOUR SEED TO OAKS STRATEGIST
WILL HELP:
o
o
o
o
Identify your congregation’s
gifts
Provide possible connections
between your church’s gifts and
community needs
Mercy Ministry or outreach best
practices
To discern potential pathways of
service
The key to serving your community and meeting their needs is to locate
all available church assets and begin to connect them with one another
in way that multiplies their power and effectiveness. We encourage
you to construct a church “map” that highlights opportunity, new
sources of energy, and new possibilities.
o What kind of service projects might your church support using
these gifts?
Begin with Basic Assets
What do you have to be thankful for? To begin your church has basic
assets. Luther Snow, in his book The Power of Asset Mapping helps
defines multiple ways a church can discover their gifts. These include
the physical objects you hold dear, your members’ talents and skills,
your families and friends, and the ministry groups in which you
belong.
Physical Assets - Physical assets are things you can touch and see,
such as your church’s land, buildings, and equipment, as well as
natural beauty and the environment. What are your church’s physical
assets?
Individual Assets – Individual assets are the talents, skills, and
experiences of individuals within your church. What are your church
members’ talents and expertise?
u
36
Ministry Group Assets – Ministry Group assets are the talents, skills,
and experiences of your small groups, Sunday school classes and
ministry teams. What are are their talents and expetise?
Institutions – These are the agencies, corporations, and other
organizations that are linked to your membership base. They often
have budgets and staff. They might be a non-profit (such as a

COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
hospital) or for-profit (such as a manufacturing firm) or public (such
as a government agency). Where does your members of your
congregation work and volunteer? What institutions make decisions
that affect your community?
Economic Assets – These are community assets involving money,
such as your congregation’s spending power, their investments, and
their capacity to produce goods and services for money. What do
your church members do to make money? On what do they spend
money?
Look for Hidden Assets
It can be helpful for us to look harder, dig deeper, or broaden our
view when evaluating our church’s assets. It is here that we often
find jewels that present us with new opportunities. Answer these
questions about your congregation to discover what lies beneath
the surface:
o What signs of grace have you/they witnessed lately?
o What are some gifts you/they take for granted?
o If you asked someone what your church’s gifts are, what would
they say?
o What are some strengths that your church doesn’t see or use
often?
Find the Assets Inside Needs
We believe strongly that your church
should be meeting the needs in your
community. We also believe that every
need points to something we care
about. That thing we care about is
always an asset. Here are some ways
to discover those assets inside existing
congregation needs:
o Think about a crisis you have seen
or experienced. What assets did the
crisis reveal?
o What gifts are sometimes seen as
needs?
o When you focus on a specific need,
what does it reveal about your
congregations?
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08
Step Eight: Putting it
Together
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one
another, be compassionate and humble.
-1 Peter 3:8
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
All your work pays off with an exciting
booklet designed for every church member!
Compiling the Report
Congratulations! You have now completed the most
challenging part of your community study. You have
collected community demographics and surveys,
researched the history of the community, made
observations, conducted in-depth interviews, and
much more. Yet, the journey is not quite over. In
the next step instructs you will pull all of the
information together and compile it so that it is
digestible, succinct, and accessible to both church
leaders and members.
Your Community’s Story
The most beneficial studies tell the story of your
community. The goal is to write a report that is
story-formed, so that the readers will be able to not
only picture the people in the community, but also
become emotionally connected to them.
Characters - A good story describes characters or
individuals for whom the story pertains. There should
be ample description to allows the reader to visualize
the people living in your community.
Setting - The setting of a story is a description of the
environment or surroundings of the characters in such
detail that the reader feels that he or she can picture
the scene. The descriptions of the environment should
help people envision the feel and atmosphere of the
neighborhood.
Plot - The plot of a story exposes what is happening
both to the characters and their surroundings.
Conflict - When evaluating information in light of our
discoveries, we must also remember there is always
conflict to solve or community tensions that are
experienced by the people living in it.
Resolution - Finally, there is resolution or how the
community hopes to solve their most pressing
challenges.
Considering the Audience
The audience for your study can and should extend
beyond your church members and pastor. Giving your
community study to your councilman/woman or local
school principal can be a powerful way to deepen a
relationship.
Take care to write your study in an objective way, so that
both Christians and non-Christians are able to glean
insight from your hard work. We never recommend
watering down the gospel intention behind a good
community study, but we desire the final study to be
helpful to leaders and residents who do not ascribe to
our faith.
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members provide a list of their top 3-5
community and cultural tensions. Each
community is different, but each one has
conflict. Describe the tension and the
people involved. What is at stake if the
conflict is not resolved? What would the
future look like if the community rallied
together to solve the conflict? You will
want to list three to five of the deep
tensions that you discovered during your
study.
First Draft
To begin, compile a first draft of the report (using your online
workbook) that highlights the very best of what you have discovered
about your community so far. Don’t worry about the length of the
document at this time. Rather aim to put everything together into one
coherent document. You will want to write as concisely as possible with
both clarity and purpose in mind.
Major Headings
With so much information gathered, we recommend using the following
major headings or sections to guide your first draft. You may select
other headings, but over time, we have found these to be the most
helpful.
Neighborhood Snapshot – In no more than two paragraphs provide a
brief description of the community, including its collective or stated
vision, geographic boundaries, as well as any major challenges and
hopes they have for the future. Because it is the first thing people will
read, this section it will give them a small taste of what is to come.
Population Highlights – This section is typically a chart that includes the
demographic data collected. You will want to highlight anything that is
concerning or stands out as a challenge for the community. For
example, a high poverty rate, a growing percentage of single moms, or a
large refuge population. Converting percentages to actual numbers will
also make the information more personal.
Community and Cultural Tensions – In this section you will introduce the
conflict and tensions within the community. Have your key team
Survey Results – After knocking on doors,
the Resident should have compiled and
categorized the survey findings. In this
section list up to five of the most
emphasized collected responses. This
section gives a direct voice to the people
living in your community. Their voice can
either support the official community
narrative (set by community officials) or
contradict it.
Neighborhood Observations – This
section may be several pages long at
first, as it provides a vivid and
comprehensive description of the
community and gives the reader clues
into what it is really like to live in the
community. This section is best compiled
by having the Resident and Observer
work together.
Churches and Spiritual Life – We cannot
forget that ultimate purpose of this
report is to help your church serve and
proclaim the gospel. Two paragraphs are
important to include in this section. The
first includes a list of churches within the
community. The second should include a
description of the spiritual mood or
climate (e.g., open to religious
conversations, closed to anything
religious, spiritual but not religious,
religiously indifferent, etc.). A
description of the spiritual climate may
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
be written together by the Resident and Interviewer.
Community Wants, Needs, Dreams – One of the most
powerful sections of a community study providing a
direct voice to the community as they shared with you
their wants, dreams and direct needs. We recommend
listing the top 3-5 of each, followed by a short
description explaining each situation. Each team
member can compile a list from their perspective. This
section gives church members ideas on how they may
come alongside the community and step into needs as
a means of sharing the gospel.
Opportunities for Ministry – This section is important
because it highlights the top 3-5 requested ways that
the community wants your church to participate in
their lives. This section is different than simply listing
needs. It describes the community residents’ desire for
your church to be present in the neighborhood. Often,
participation in or hosting community festivals or
events is included here. This section lists the best
opportunities in which to align your congregation’s
gifts and passions with neighborhood’s dreams and
wants.
Talk it Out – This is the final section, and it consists of a
list of questions intended for the reader to ask
themselves (or small group, bible study, or Sunday
School class). We encourage asking the following
question to promote reflection on the community:
1. What most surprised you about the community? Is
there anything you would add to this study from
your own experience of the area?
2. How might knowledge of the city, its history, and
its values affect the way you relate to its
residents? How might it change the way you lead
ministries or inhabit the community?
3. What do you see as the major barriers to
community residents coming to Christ and joining
a healthy church (i.e. neighborhood practices,
culture or perceptions that inhibit the progress of
the gospel)?
4. What sorts of bridges (opportunities for people to
encounter the truth of the gospel) might we as a
church build to overcome those barriers?
5. What are some of your ideas for serving or
reaching the populations below? List vulnerable
populations in your community (elderly, the poor,
youth, etc.)
6. What types of outreach ministries or events do
you think would be most effective in general?
7. What resources or strengths do we have as a
church family to love, serve, and reach the
community?
8. What particular seasons of the year, holidays,
or events provide unique opportunity for
ministry and outreach?
9. What other ideas do you have for creative,
effective ministry in our community?
Final Draft
The ideal finished booklet should be 10-12 pages
long. This means that once your first draft is
complete, you will want to share it with your
pastor(s) and key church leaders. Ask them what
information would be best to include in a final,
shorter document.
You will likely go through a few rounds of edits until
you have your final draft. The final draft should be
concise, pithy, and leave little room for any fluff. It
should factual, descriptive, and action oriented.
Designing & Printing the Booklet
Presentation is important and shows that a
document is worth reading. We suggest that you
send your final draft to a graphic artist to have the
document designed. Likewise, we encourage a
small budget to print the booklet on nice paper.
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09
Step Nine: Present
Your Findings
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing
move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,
because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
-1 Corinthians 15:58
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Who to Present Your Findings to:
To Your Pastors
When sharing your findings with your church pastors and leaders, schedule a 90-minute meeting.
Consider emailing or delivering the study in advance to make the meeting more efficient.
Debriefing the study with your pastors and leaders will accomplish several things:
o It will allow for opportunity to inform your pastor’s vision as you share your experience and
findings within the community.
o It will give you an opportunity to be the “voice of those in the community” as you answer the
questions your church leaders ask.
o It will provide an opportunity for the leaders to process together what it means to be a church in
your community.
o It will provide an opportunity for your church leaders to make gospel connections, create next
steps, and pray more pointedly for the community and the church.
Before leaving the meeting, you will want to ask the group:
1. Where do you see God already at work?
2. What are the community’s greatest needs?
3. What can we as the local church do to meet those needs?
To Your Church
When sharing your findings with your church body, consider approaching smaller key groups such as
community or small groups, Sunday school classes, ministry teams, or other smaller sections of your church
body. These smaller groups will give you more opportunity to gauge reactions and greater potential to
influence and learn from the discussion. Allow the group to read the document and give them time to
discuss the questions in the back. An ideal next step is to identify church members who live inside of your
defined area. Consider hosting a lunch with your pastor and these church members to get input and cast
vision for your future relationship within the neighborhood.
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10
Step Ten: After the
Study
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love
and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in
the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the
more as you see the Day approaching.
-Hebrews 10:24-25
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
Taking Care of
Yourself
§ Sabbath
§ Silence
§ Solitude
§ Play
The Importance of Rest After the Study
After an intense process like a community study,
pastor Pete Scazzero suggests the question we
must wrestle with is this: In what ways does my
current pace of life and leadership enhance or
diminish my ability to allow God’s will and
presence fully in my life?
Jesus faced overwhelming pressures in his life —
pressures that far surpassed anything most of us
will ever face. Yet he routinely stepped away
from those endless leadership demands to spend
significant time with the Father.
He slowed down to ensure he was in sync with
God — that he was in the Father and the Father
was in him, powerfully filling every crevice of his
body, mind, and spirit.
In routinely stepping away from his active work,
he entrusted the outcome of his circumstances,
problems, and ministry to the Father. And as a
result, every action Jesus took was rooted in a
place of deep rest and centeredness out of his
relationship with God.
Just as Jesus lived in relaxed, loving union with the
Father, he invites us to share in that relationship with
him: “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear
much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing”
(John15:5).
He promises that if we remain in him, “fruit” will
always follow. However, when we refuse to slow down
for loving union, the consequences can be significant
and long-lasting, rippling out from us and impacting
those we lead and beyond.
Post study, we recommend taking some time for
extended Sabbath, silence, solitude and play.
Sabbath – Sabbath is a twenty-four-hour period in
which we cease all work in order to rest and delight in
God’s gifts. It is transformative and indispensable to
being an emotionally healthy leader.
Silence - In silence we are still before the Lord in
wordless prayer. We encourage you to seek to be
silent in God’s presence for twenty minutes a day.
When done, we are often calmer and less anxious
when we are active. If twenty minutes seems too
much, consider starting with two to five minutes and
work your way up from there.
Solitude – The outer expression of solitude is
aloneness. Setting some times to be alone are
essential if we are to cultivate inner solitude, but they
are not sufficient. It is inner solitude that is
essential— not simply a place where we are alone but
a place where we can be present to ourselves. Inner
solitude is a state of peaceful being with my self.
Play – When we play, we are delighting in the joy God
has given us. What do you love to do? Spend a day
playing: going to the park, cooking a good meal, going
to a game, hanging out with friends. Play is a key
aspect of taking care of yourself and your soul after
conducting a community study.
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Notes
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COMMUNITY STUDIES MANUAL
God proclaimed the good news through
Jesus Christ... and he went around doing
good because God was with him.”
- Acts 10:36-38
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SEED TO OAKS
1303 S. Shelby Street
Louisville, KY 40217
48
502-791-OAKS
info@ seedtooaks.com
www.seedtooaks.com